Portable typewriting machine and case therefor



Sept. 25 1923.

E. G. LATTA PORTABLE TYPEWRITING MACHINE AND CASE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2'7 1922 Sept. 25, 1923.

E. G. LATTA PORTABLE TYPEWRITING MACHINE AND CASE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27 1922 Patented Sept. 25, 1923.

EMMIT G. LAT'IA, OF SYRACUSE, NEN YORK.

PORTABLE TYPEXVRITI'NG MACHINE AND CASE THEREFOR.

Application filed January 27, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMrr G. Lar'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Typewriting Machines and Cases Therefor, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable typewriting machines and enclosing or carrying cases therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a practical and desirable portable typewriting machine and enclosing or carrying case therefor which shall be of small, compact form and simple, durable and inexpensive in construction; and particularly to accomplish these results in a typewriter of the popular front strike kind having a full sized keyboard and full complement of forty-two type bars.

More specifically, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a portable typewriting machine and enclosing or carrying case therefor which will permit the machine to be lowered to an inoperative position in the case so that the height of the case may be re duced to the minimum and a flat and easily transported package presented when the machine is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a portable typewriting machine and enclosing or carrying case a machine, the rear end of Which may be maintained in its raised and operative position by the case and which may be lowered Within the case to present a flat and easily transported package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable typewriting machine and en closing or carrying case wherein the number of parts and the amount of material is reduced to a minimum, thereby reducing the weight of the machine and the cost of construction thereof, and in which one portion of the case serves as a guard for the keyboard, thereby dispensing with that portion of the frame usually. provided for this purpose, and another portion of the case conceals the open space under the rear end of the machine when the rear end is raised into operative position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully in the accompanying specification and claims.

For the purpose of disclosing the inven- Seial No. 532,242.

tion one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in hich:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a machine and case, with the cover removed, embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the case, with its cover on, showing the machine enclosed in inoperative position in the case by dotted If H1168.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, there is provided finger keys 1 which are preferably arranged in four banks at different elevations, and the space bar 2. The paper platen 3 is journalled as usual to rotate on a transversely movable carriage at the upper rear portion of the machine, which carriage is provided with a track bar l having moving therewith a carriage rack bar 5 arranged to engage with the usual carriage feed pinion 6 operating with the escapement vwheel '7. There are also provided the ribbon spools 8 which support the ribbon in front of the platen 3.

The platen 3 is mounted to shift vertically to cooperate with the upper and lower case type on the type bars 9 which are pivoted at their rear ends to the type bar segment 10. For the purpose of illustration only two type bars are shown, although it will be understood that the usual number is provided. These type bars are operated by key levers 11 which are suitably pivoted on the rear part of the segment 10 and are connected to the type bars by suitable in termediate lever mechanism or sublevers 12 and links 12*. The parts mentioned and the other operative parts of the machine not shown are all preferably mounted, in the relation shown, on a single main or supporting frame as seen in Fig. 1 and are all located substantially between two parallel planes indicated by the lines a? and 0-d so that the machine is adapted to be enclosed in a case having the top and bottom disposed in parallel relation to and substantially in said two planes.

The main frame shown comprises a pair of side members 13 which preferably take the form of right angle triangles, the hypotenuse of the triangle being on the under side and when the machine is in its operative position, being inclined upwardly from front to rear. These two side members 13 of the main frame are connected together by three main connecting members or bars.

will more fully {hereinafter appear.

The second or intermediate connecting bar for the two end members of the frame comprises the type bar segment 10 which is secured at its opposite ends to the two side members of the frame. The third and rear connecting bar 18 for the two side members of the frame extends between the rear ends of the side members and is provided with a hook shaped lip 19, the purpose of wh'gh n the upper edge of the side members 13 there are provided a pair of inturned ears 20 which support the ribbon spools 8 It will 'be'noted that substantially all of the operating parts of the machine are below the plane of the line ab which touches the 7 upper forward endof the frame and the forward edge of the space bar 2. The front edge of the spools 8 projects slightly above this plane but not enough to make any material difference in the placing of the cover in position when the machine is closed. It will also be noted that this plane is parallel with the plane 0-cZ of the lower edges of the side members 13 of the frame andthat all of the operative parts lie above this plane ccZ so that when the rear end of the frame is lowered by tilting on the feet '15 at the lower forward end of the frame, the two planes ab and c(Z will be in substantially horizontal position.

It will be further noted that the side members of the frame are extremely short "from front to rear and that'the keyboard projects beyond the vertical plane of the front edge of the side members whereby the keyboard is left exposed. This shortening of the frame results in a material re duction in the metal used in the frame and a corresponding decrease in the weight of the 'machine as well as further cheapening themanufacture and assembly of the parts.

The frame, together with the operative parts of the machine, is removablyarranged within a case 21. This case is preferably formed of sheet metal and stamped or drawn from a single sheet to give strength and rigidity thereto. The case is open at its upper side and is provided with a bottom 22, two sides 23 and front and rear walls '24 and 25. The rear wall 25 of the case is higher than the front wall 24 of the case and the upper edges of the two side walls 23 of the case incline from back to front in a in an operative position.

general direction downwardly so that the upper front edges of the side walls arematerially below the keys 1 and space bar 2, leaving them, when the frame is raised to operative position, exposed and without ob struction to interfere with the work of the operator. The frame and operative parts of the machine are supported in the case 22 in operative position with thetwo feet 15 resting on the bottom of the case and its rear end elevated in a raised position by hooking the lip 1-9 overthe rear wall 25 of the case whereby the machine is'supported rigidly the front portion of the case forms a guard for the keyboard while the rear portion of the case encloses and hides the space left beneath the frame. I

VVhenit is desiredto lower the rear end of the frame for the purpose of moving the machine to an inoperative position to reduce its dimensions, it is merely necessary to slightly raise the rearend of the frame to In this position f unhook the lip 19 from over the .rear wa'll 25 and by slightly sliding the entire frame for ward, itbeing noted that the front wall 24 is sufficiently low to permit thespace bar 2 to clear the same in this forward'movement. V

The rear end of the frame .may then be lowered so that the lower edges of the two side members 18 lie upon and parallel with.

the bottom of thercase, thus leaving the two planes (Lb., c*cZ in parallel relation with the bottom of the case and with the keyboard tilted upwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

A cover 26 for the case is provided for closing the machine and this cover prefen' ably has its front end deeper than the rear end, the cover being :open on its under side and having the front wall 27 comparatively high while its rear wall 128 is :low, being'j' ust thereverse of the front and rear wall of the case. The two side walls2l9 have their lower edges inclined downwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall to the lower edge of the front wall, the material being cut away to this extent for "saving. The cover, it will be The cover and is provided. Furthermore, the frame and operative parts of the machine may be bodily lifted out of the case for'repair and cleaning and to assist in the lifting of the frame and with it the operating parts of the machine out of the case and, to assist in raising the frame to operating position or in lowering the same into closed position or in bodily removing the frame from the case, the forward upper corners of the two side members 1'3 of the frame are preferably provided with finger openings 30, and the side walls 233 of the case are sutiiciently cut away to expose these finger openings when the frame is in its lowered, closed position. The bottom of the case is provided with the usual rubber cushions 31 to prevent noise, creeping of the case during operation of the machine, etc.

To prevent sliding of the machine in the case when the case is turned endwise for carrying, there are provided in the bottom of the case stops or lugs 32 spaced apart from the rear wall of the case. hen the machine is lowered into the case the hook shaped lip 13 engages these stops and prevents the machine from sliding in one direction while the rear wall prevents it from sliding in the opposite direction.

It will be observed. that no extra parts are required to produce this machine and its two part case and that all operative parts are at all times in fixed relation as in machines that are not compactible, thus making a portable machine of longer life and at less expense than if extra oints were required.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a typewrit-ing machine and case, a machine having a keyboard arranged in banks and having type-bars and a platen arranged in rear of above the keyboard, and an enclosing case arranged to support the machine with the platen in elevated and the keyboard in depressed, operative position and permit the platen to be lowered and the keyboard raised to inoperative position therein.

2. In a typewriting machine and case therefor, a two-part case, a front strike typewriter constructed and adapted to have its rear parts lowered and its front parts elevated relatively to the bottom of said case, the bottom of said case supporting the central part of the machine therein in both positions of its front and rear parts.

3. In a typewriting machine and two part detachable case therefor, a front strike typewriter supportcd in elevated operative position by the lower rear part of the case, and adapted to be lowered to an inoperative horizontal position within the lower part of said case.

4;. In a typewriting machine and case therefor, a. front strike typewriter having its operative parts arranged between two parallel planes extending rearwardly and upwardly when the machine is in position for use, and a two part case having its lower part closed below and open above to receive the machine and means for interlocking the rear parts of the machine and case to hold the machine in position for use within the casein an inoperative position.

5. In a typewriting machine and case, a front strike machine having its operative parts arranged in relatively fixed positions; on a support between two substantially parallel planes, said planes extending rearwardiy and upwardly when the machine is in position for use, and a two part case, each part having one open and one closed side, the closed-sides being in parallel planes when closed and adapted to enclose the machine when the machine is lowered to a horizontai position.

6. In a typewriting machine, a frame arranged to have its rear end lowered by tip ping on a forward portion of the frame, a case in which said frame is arranged and with which the rear end of the frame detachably connected for supporting the rear end of the machine in raised operative position while permitting the rear end to be lowered into saidcase.

7. In a typewriting machine, a frame which has mounted thereon the operative parts of the machine including the keyboard and is arranged to have its rear end lowered by tipping on a forward portion of the frame, and a case in which said frame is supported with its rear end in raised operative position and in which said frame is lowered to an inoperative position, a portion of said case forming a guard for the keyboard when the machine is in operative position.

8. In a typewriting machine, a frame which has mounted thereon the operative parts of the machine including the keyboard and arranged to have its rear end lowered by tipping on a forward portion of the frame, and a case in which said frame is supported, said case being deeper at one end than the other, said frame having at its rear end a detachable connection with a portion of the deep end of the case to support the rear end in raised, operative position and permit the lowering of the rear end to an inoperative position in the case, the. shallower portion of the case forming a guard for the keyboard and permitting unobstructed operative access to the keyboard when the machine is in operative position.

9. In a typewriting machine, a frame which has mounted thereon the operative parts of the machine including the keyboard which projects forwardly beyond the frame, said frame being constructed to adapt its rear end to lower by tipping on a portion of the frame, and a case in which said frame is arranged having its rear end deeper than its front end, means on the frame arranged to engage a support at the rear of the case to support the frame in a raised operative position while permitting said rear end to be lowered to an inoperative position in the case, the front shallow portion of the ease forming a guard for the keyboard exposing the keys for operation when the frame is into move the highest portion of the type-.

Writer to or below the plane of the highest portion of the case, said ease having a cover for closing the same when the rear end 0t the frame is lowered.

11. In a-typewriting machine and case,

.a case member having a bottom and an open 7 top, a frame in said case member having the operative parts of the machine mounted thereon, said frame being supported in said case member to'tilt' t0 and from an inclined operative position on said case member; means for releasably holding said inclined operative positlon and a cover for closing said case.

EMMIT e. LATTA! Witnesses:

ROY W. BELL, R. R. GARLASH.

said frame in V 

